Last updated : Tuesday, 04 March 2025
The East Lancashire Football Alliance (ELFA), sponsored by Forbes Solicitors, stands as the largest amateur football league in England. With over 219 teams participating, the organization provides a structured competitive environment for thousands of players across various age groups including youth divisions like the Under 12 WHITE team.
ELFA has built an impressive community presence, demonstrated by their hit counter exceeding 5.2 million visitors to their official website. The league maintains comprehensive resources for participants and supporters, including fixtures, results, tables, and statistics that keep the football community connected and informed.
Beyond competitive play, ELFA promotes important values in sports through their Respect and Silent Support initiatives. These programs reflect the organization's commitment to fostering a positive sporting culture while Forbes Solicitors' sponsorship enables the league to sustain its extensive operations and community impact throughout East Lancashire.
History
ELFA (East Lancashire Football Alliance) established its partnership with Forbes Solicitors in the early 2010s. This sponsorship has been instrumental in supporting youth football development across East Lancashire.
Forbes Solicitors, a prominent law firm with offices across the North of England, began its sponsorship to strengthen community ties and promote grassroots sports. Their investment has helped ELFA expand its reach and improve facilities for young players.
The alliance organizes competitions for various age groups, including the U15 divisions that feature teams like Colne FC U15 BLACK and LANGHO JUNIOR U15 BLUE. These youth leagues provide structured competitive environments for developing players.
Since the partnership began, ELFA has seen significant growth in participation numbers. The organization's digital presence has also expanded, with their website recording over 5 million hits, demonstrating the wide interest in local youth football.
Forbes Solicitors' support has allowed ELFA to maintain comprehensive online resources including fixtures, results, tables, and statistics for all participating teams. This has made the league more accessible to players, parents, and coaches.
The partnership represents a successful model of corporate involvement in community sports, providing financial stability while promoting physical activity and teamwork among young people in East Lancashire.
Age Groups and Divisions
The ELFA league sponsored by Forbes Solicitors organizes youth football into multiple age categories to ensure fair competition and appropriate development for young players. The league structure spans from under 7s to under 18s, providing opportunities for children at various stages of development.
Teams like Fulledge Colts U10 Girls participate in the under 12s division, demonstrating the league's flexible approach to team placement based on skill level and development needs rather than strictly adhering to age-specific divisions.
The divisional structure allows for competitive balance while ensuring young players can progress through appropriate levels of challenge. Each division typically contains multiple teams that compete against each other throughout the season.
The league's age groups include:
- Under 7s
- Under 8s
- Under 9s
- Under 10s
- Under 12s
- Under 14s
- Under 16s
- Under 18s
Some teams, such as St Josephs Junior U12, compete in specific numbered divisions within their age bracket (Division 4), indicating the league employs a tiered system to match teams of similar abilities.
This structured approach helps young footballers develop their skills in an appropriate competitive environment while fostering team spirit and sportsmanship values throughout their youth football journey.
Committee/Staff/Contacts
The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) operates with a dedicated team of professionals who manage various aspects of the organization. Kyle Alexandre serves as VP of State Government Relations and can be reached at kalexandre@elfaonline.org or (202) 238-3424.
Julie Benson MBA, CAE is also part of the executive staff at ELFA. The association maintains a comprehensive staff directory to facilitate communication between members and the organization's leadership.
For questions about membership benefits and resources, ELFA encourages reaching out to membership@elfaonline.org. This contact point serves as a gateway to learning more about the valuable resources available to all ELFA members.
The ELFA Sponsored by Forbes Solicitors initiative includes various committees that oversee different youth football leagues and tournaments. These committees help coordinate fixtures, results tracking, and other administrative functions for teams like Langho Junior U15 Blue and Colne FC U15 Black.
Contact information for specific committee members can be obtained through the official ELFA channels. Forbes Solicitors, as the main sponsor, maintains representation within the organizational structure to support the association's activities and development.
Teams
ELFA currently hosts 7 teams across 7 divisions, creating a competitive football environment in the local area. Each team contributes to the vibrant community fostered by the league.
Forbes Solicitors' sponsorship has helped strengthen the organizational structure of these teams. Their support enables efficient management of match schedules and league administration.
The league maintains a comprehensive contact directory for all participating teams. This system facilitates communication between team managers, players, and league officials.
Team contact numbers are readily available through the ELFA system, making it easier to coordinate fixtures and address any match-related queries. This accessibility promotes smooth operation throughout the season.
The league also implements a Match Day Respect Scoring Guide. This initiative encourages sportsmanship and fair play among all teams during competitions.
Teams in the ELFA benefit from clear match day procedures. These standardized processes ensure consistency across all fixtures and divisions.
Team Resources:
- League Handbook
- Online Match Day Procedures
- Team Contact Directory
- Respect Scoring Guidelines
The organizational framework provided by ELFA allows teams to focus on their performance while administrative matters are handled efficiently. This professional approach has contributed to the league's popularity and longevity.
Players
ELFA Sponsored by Forbes Solicitors features youth football teams across various age groups. The organization maintains privacy for young players, as players' names are no longer displayed for youth leagues.
Some teams like Trawden Celtic U14 have players including Callum Atkinson, Daniel Cook, Harry Crane, Joseph Crossley, and Archie among others. These young athletes represent the grassroots football talent in the league.
The league encourages proper accreditation and reminds participants to renew before March 10th. Teams participate in various divisions, such as the Under 12 Division 5 and Under 12 WHITE.
ELFA promotes youth development through competitive football opportunities. Teams like Lammack Jnrs participate in the Under 9 division, representing England, United Kingdom in this grassroots football initiative.
The league emphasizes "Silent Support" for young players, creating a positive environment for their athletic development. This approach helps reduce pressure and allows players to enjoy the game.
